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Literary Criticism

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The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum was one of America’s first fairy tales. As such America is embedded, as well as outright discussed, in the book. It is quite clear that around the turn of the century Baum saw the need for a change in America involving the economy and leadership, and noted that this change was beginning to take place. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz reflects this and in his book, Baum brings two conflicting ideas of what America was becoming—the Emerald City—and what he thought America should be like—the rest of Oz, specifically the Munchkin lands and the South—together. In addition, he also briefly discusses an interesting view of what America was—Kansas—in order to compare and critique the different versions of America and show which one, either the Emerald City or the rest of Oz, he thought was best.

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Mar 19th, 11:30 AMMar 19th, 1:00 PM

Oz: A Reflection of America

4116 JFSB

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum was one of America’s first fairy tales. As such America is embedded, as well as outright discussed, in the book. It is quite clear that around the turn of the century Baum saw the need for a change in America involving the economy and leadership, and noted that this change was beginning to take place. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz reflects this and in his book, Baum brings two conflicting ideas of what America was becoming—the Emerald City—and what he thought America should be like—the rest of Oz, specifically the Munchkin lands and the South—together. In addition, he also briefly discusses an interesting view of what America was—Kansas—in order to compare and critique the different versions of America and show which one, either the Emerald City or the rest of Oz, he thought was best.